A child-like doll was dumped on the railway line earlier today, sparking a huge emergency response.
999 crews rushed to reports of a casualty on the tracks in Swindon, Wiltshire., shortly after 1pm this afternoon.
Five paramedics got kitted up in high-vis and hard hats as they waited for access to the railway – braced to find a lifeless body.
Wiltshire Air Ambulance was deployed to the scene, landing at the nearby MINI plant.
Approximately ten officers from Wiltshire Police and the British Transport Police were also on scene alongside Network Rail incident response officers.
When first responders found the casualty to be a child-like doll, they were stood down.
The item was around the size of a five-year-old child, dressed in blue jeans with a flower pattern, a pink flowery jumper and black shoes.
Its head featured a navy blue hat and long curly blonde locks – enough to dupe somebody into thinking it was a little girl lineside.
A cigarette lighter was also hanging from the doll’s jeans, but it’s not clear why.
The railway line reopened when 999 crews stood down at around 1.35pm.
British Transport Police said: ‘Officers were called to the line near Swindon railway station just after 1pm today to reports of a possible casualty on the tracks. Officers attended and it was confirmed to be a mannequin.’
In a statement, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: ‘We were called to Stratton Green, Stratton St Margaret at 1.23pm today after reports of a possible body on the railway line.
‘Two crews attended, from Stratton and Swindon, but it was a false alarm and our stop was at 1.36pm.’
In an update on the Great Western Railway website, it said: ‘Following checking reports of an obstruction on the line earlier today between Swindon and Didcot Parkway all lines are now open.
‘Train services running through these stations are returning to normal but some services may still be delayed. Disruption is expected until 15:00 19/07.
‘Apologies for the disruption to your journey today.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
